Washington (CNN) - A potential GOP presidential contender is spending Presidents Day in the state that traditionally kicks off the race for the White House.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is in Iowa Monday, meeting with state Republican party officials and with some state lawmakers. Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee during the 1990's and chairman of the Republican Governors Association last cycle, is seriously considering a bid for his party's presidential nomination.
After meeting with Gov. Terry Branstad, Barbour spoke with reporters about his timeline.

"There's a lot that enters into it. I have been political director of the White House under Ronald Reagan and I understand what I'm getting into. I'm 63 years old and this is a 10 year commitment if you run and get elected, you're committing yourself for reelection and so you've got to be prepared for a 10 year commitment and that's the majority of the rest of my productive life and you have to decide am I willing to take on the most consuming job in the world, which the presidency is, and I have to see if I have the fire in the belly and the willingness, to the exclusion of all other things, to take that on," according to a transcript from Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson

Barbour's scheduled to return to Iowa on March 15, when he headlines a GOP dinner in Scott County. The Mississippi governor says he'll decide about whether he'll run for the White House after his state's legislature adjourns in April, telling reporters that "I don't believe in running for the next job until I finish the job I've got."

Iowa's caucuses traditionally lead off the presidential primary and caucus calendar.

soundoff(15 Responses)

Jilli

Unless Barbour can time travel back to what he considers the glory days (pre civil rights), he doesn't stand a chance. He's a neanderthal when it comes to race issues – that crap may still fly in mississippi, but the country has moved past it – and definitely doesn't want to be molded to the model of that state.

February 21, 2011 12:05 pm at 12:05 pm |

LouAz

Shouldn't he be back home in Mississippi celebrating his President's – Jefferson Davis – Day. You betcha !

February 21, 2011 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm |

ConservaFascists

I bet he'll be here in Virginia in April to celebrate Confederacy month as well.

February 21, 2011 12:32 pm at 12:32 pm |

Claudia, Houston, Tx

How many ways do you say no to the Gov. of Mississippi without saying H... no Barbour, not now and not ever.

February 21, 2011 12:33 pm at 12:33 pm |

vic nashville tn

Haley Barbour listen to Mike Huckabee

February 21, 2011 12:44 pm at 12:44 pm |

steven harnack

Here's an idea. Why don't these Goverors who are jetting all over the country trying to out right-whine all of the other right-whiners, why don't they spend a little time doing the job that they applied for?

February 21, 2011 12:55 pm at 12:55 pm |

pjjk

Does this hick with a capital H really think he has a chance? As soon as he started sidestepping the lic. palte issue, I realized he was a good ol boy. Well guess what good ol boy. To paraphrase a good ol rock band, we don't need your kind around here anymore.

February 21, 2011 01:16 pm at 1:16 pm |

rusty155

Barbour is Racist plan as he Fat. This Is another one Republican Party that Is trying to run for President and he a JOKE.

February 21, 2011 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

thomas

Cook grits according to package directions. Stir in the shredded cheese, butter, eggs, and milk; pour into a buttered 1-quart baking dish. Bake 45 minutes, or until set.
Serves 4.

Haley's Cheese Grits

February 21, 2011 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

Frankie

I better go visit Iowa. They must have some interesting tourist attractions. Why would all these Republicans who claim they're not running for president go there in droves all of a sudden?

February 21, 2011 01:49 pm at 1:49 pm |

KLK

He'll never be president of the United States.

February 21, 2011 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

diridi

what an idiot this fatty acid is.....

February 21, 2011 01:51 pm at 1:51 pm |

No Partisans

Memo to the Neo-Confederates. You lost the Civil War. You lost the election. Please get over it and move on. Obama is half-white so relax already.

February 21, 2011 02:04 pm at 2:04 pm |

ThinkAgain

Why is Iowa so important? It's just ridiculous that this small, agricultural, mostly White state has such sway in our political process. I agree with the suggestion that we should have 5 super-primaries, with the first occurring in a different group on a rotating basis. That way, every state will get visited by the candidates and more voters will have an impact on the election.

That is, afterall, what democracy should be all about: The voice of the people – in all 50 states – heard.

February 21, 2011 02:05 pm at 2:05 pm |

GOP = Greed Over People

Tell me again, why anyone would vote for a governor of a state that is consistently ranked 50 out of 50 to be President of all 50?